Rollekonter

This is a work in progress.

The Rollekonter (ロールコンター) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made from early 1938 to 1944. The name is an obvious rip-off of Rolleiflex and Ikonta (イコンター in Japanese). The camera was made by Mori Seisakusho. It was distributed by Ōsawa, Yamashita and Seibidō, then by Mizuno and Hakkōdō.

General description of the knob-advance models

The Rollekonter was inspired by the 1936 Rolleicord models. All the models share the same body casting; it is said that this part was re-used after the war on various other TLR cameras, perhaps because the dies survived and were used by some sub-contractor supplying parts to other manufacturers.

The camera is focused by moving the front plate back and forth. The focusing and film advance knobs are on the photographer's right. The film advance is semi-automatic and there is a round exposure counter window at the top of the right-hand side plate. The focusing knob is inscribed Rolle Konter Work, a mere dummy name (see Camera Works). The distance scale is engraved on the side of the knob, usually on a black background. It is surrounded by a metal plate, either chrome or black, looking like a depth-of-field scale but only engraved Rolle konter.

The viewing hood is made of two parts only. There is a mirror inside, released by a lever visible on the right. It is used for eye-level focusing through a round eyepiece on the rear. There is also a magnifying lens hinged to the rear of the hood. The front part of the hood has a logo in the middle, reading K&T. This logo is read from behind when the hood is closed, and it appears upside down when it is open.

The back is hinged to the top for film loading. There is an exposure table in English language attached at the rear. The table is exactly identical to that of the First Reflex, and it seems that these cameras share other parts too. There is a red window under the camera, on the left-hand side next to the tripod screw. It is protected by a sliding cover and is used to set the position of the first exposure.

All the models have a 75mm lens called Hitonar Anastigmat or U Hitonar Anastigmat. The name Hitonar (ヒトナー) probably refers to Hitler (written ヒトラー in Japanese). An original document lists the U Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 as a three-element lens made by Kokusaku. At least one recent source says that the Hitonar was made by Miyoshi Kōgaku; this may be a mistake or might indicate that the supplier was changed at some point.

The case is made of brown leather and is embossed Rollekonter or Rolle Konter at the front.

The original Rollekonter and Rollekonter I

Description

The original Rollekonter has the first type of advance mechanism. It automatically stops after each exposure, and reportedly provides double exposure prevention. There is a lever in front of the wind knob, with O and R indications, and it seems that the central part of the wind knob is fixed, unlike the contemporary Rolleicord. Other details of the mechanism are unclear, and it is not known how the exposure counter is engaged or reset.

The camera has a regular latch at the rear of the viewing hood, unlike the later Rollekonter II. The Rolle konter plate around the focus knob is normally black, as well as the back latch under the camera. The viewing lens has f/3.2 maximum aperture, unlike later models.

Early cameras

The early cameras are recognized by the small nameplate, only inscribed Rolle konter in two words. The lens is a Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5. The shutter, advertised as a Tokyo Compur (トーキョーコンパー), provides T, B, 1–300 speeds. This is not a genuine Compur but a Japanese copy made by Bikōdō. The shutter plate has an MB logo and is engraved Compur on one side. The name Rolle konter and the aperture scale are on separate plates, attached by two screws. The release lever is combined with the setting lever, under the shutter casing.

At least two surviving examples are known with the original nameplate, including that pictured in McKeown.

Early documents

The original Rollekonter was first advertised in the January issue of Asahi Camera and was featured in the new products column of the February issue of the same magazine. The June 1938 advertisement in Asahi Camera shows a picture of the camera with the early nameplate, merely called "Rollekonter". Three authorized dealers are mentioned: Ōsawa Shōkai, Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten and Seibidō, and no other company name is given.

New nameplate

Rollekonter I, late nameplate, "Compur-Rapid" shutter, U Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 taking lens no.7575. Pictures courtesy of eBayer tuiteka. (Image rights)

The original model soon received a larger nameplate, shaped like that of the Rolleicord, marked Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO with no mention of a model number. It was renamed Rollekonter I after the introduction of the Rollekonter II in mid-1940, and was advertised until April 1941.

No original document showing the camera with larger nameplate has yet been found, but various surviving examples are known. At least one camera pictured in Sugiyama still has the Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.5 taking lens (that particular camera has a non standard back latch, which is perhaps not original).

Most other examples have the newer U Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.5, with lens numbers in the 7xxx and 8xxx range. The viewing lens is either a Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.2 with a serial number, or a U Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.2 with no number.

Most Rollekonter I have the "Tokyo Compur" shutter (T, B, 1–300) with MB logo. Others have a shutter giving T, B, 1–500 speeds, engraved COMPUR–RAPID on the rim. This shutter was made by Bikōdō too, and was advertised as the "Rapid-Compur" on later models of the Rollekonter, but does not appear with the Rollekonter I on the original documents. The front plate is normally similar to that of the "Tokyo Compur", with an MB logo and Rolle konter nameplate.

The example pictured on the right has the "Compur-Rapid" but lacks the MB logo, and has a non original synch socket and a separate setting lever, perhaps the result of a repair. Another camera with the "Compur-Rapid" has a KODAK shutter plate, certainly because the part was replaced at some time.

Variant with lens casing

An isolated camera is known with a rounded casing around the taking and viewing lenses, completely covering the shutter. There are three levers on the sides of the casing, certainly to set the speed and aperture, and for shutter cocking and release. A black plate is screwed between the two lenses, with the words ROLLE KONTER WORK, and the camera lacks the K&T logo at the top.

The rest of the camera body, including the film advance mechanism, is the same as on the Rollekonter I with large nameplate. The taking lens is a U.Hitonar with a low serial number (no.1419), and the viewing lens is a Ricoh Anastigmat.

The camera is extremely similar to the Ricohflex A, made by Mori Seisakusho for Riken from 1939, which only differs by its Ricohflex nameplate, RIKEN KOHGAKU KOGYO CO., LTD. marking and Ricoh Anastigmat taking lens.

That particular camera has been presented in recent sources as a "Rollekonter III", but this is probably a mistake. (The Rollekonter III was released at a later period and was surely based on the Rollekonter II with the newer film advance mechanism.) It is actually a variant of the original Rollekonter, made in 1939 at the same time as the Ricohflex A. The camera was perhaps assembled from an unsold Ricohflex body, with the black ROLLE KONTER WORK plate added as an afterthought to cover the RIKEN KOHGAKU KOGYO CO., LTD. marking.

The Rollekonter II and III

General description

The Rollekonter II has a newer auto-stop mechanism. It seems that all the cameras have a button in the middle of the advance knob, certainly used to unlock the film advance after each exposure, as on contemporary Rolleicord cameras. The cover for that button is often missing on the examples found today. There is an additional control near the advance knob, certainly used to engage the exposure counter after film loading (see below).

It is said that the viewing hood of the Rollekonter II automatically comes up when the focus knob is moved, and indeed no latch is visible on the back of the hood.

The Rollekonter II usually has a large nameplate, similar to that of the model I but marked Rollekonter II and MADE IN TOKYO, but some cameras have different nameplates with stepped sides (see below). On the model II, the Rolle konter plate around the focus knob normally has a chrome instead of black background.

The shutter is either the "Tokyo Compur" (T, B, 1–300, sometimes called "New Compur"), or the "Rapid-Compur" (T, B, 1–500), as described above for the Rollekonter I. The taking lens is the U Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 on all the examples of the Rollekonter II observed so far, though early advertisements give the lens name as "Hitonar" only. The viewing lens is the same U Hitonar Anastigmat, but has no serial number. It has f/3.5 maximal aperture, instead of f/3.2 on the earlier model.

Early cameras

The Rollekonter II was first advertised in the May 1940 issue of Asahi Camera. Early Rollekonter II have a lever in front of the advance knob, certainly to engage the exposure counter. This lever differs from that of the Rollekonter I, and two types are known. The first type is pictured in an advertisement by Mizuno Shashinki-ten dated December 1940, where the lens is mentioned as a Hitonar f/3.5. The second type, with a shorter stroke, appears in another advertisement by Mizuno, dated c.1942. It has been observed on at least one surviving camera.

Regular cameras

The advance mechanism was soon modified, and regular Rollekonter II have a sliding button placed behind the focus knob, replacing the lever of the early cameras. It seems that the back latch became chrome instead of black around the same time. This configuration has been observed on various actual examples, but not on the original documents.

Stepped nameplate

Some advertisements by Hakkōdō dated 1941 and early 1942 show a picture of an unspecified Rollekonter model with a smaller stepped nameplate, only reading Rollekonter (like that of the Rolleicord made after 1938). The camera is otherwise similar to the regular Rollekonter II with sliding button. This particular nameplate has not been observed yet on any actual example.

Final version

The late Rollekonter II have a different nameplate with small steps on the side, inscribed Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO, similar to that of the late Rollekonter A. Among these, it seems that the very late cameras lack the K&T logo on the viewing hood.

The Rollekonter III

The model name "Rollekonter III" first appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, along with the Rollekonter II and Rollekonter B. Curiously, all three models share the same set price of ¥252, perhaps by mistake.

The name was used again in an advertisements by Hakkōdō dated July 1943 and September 1944. In these documents, the camera is described as "similar to the Rolleicord II" and listed with a U Hitoner f/3.5 lens and a "Rapid-Compur" shutter to 1/500. The same description is given for the Rollekonter II, only differing by the "New Compur" to 1/300. It is highly probable that this "Rollekonter III" is a new name applied to the Rollekonter II with 1/500 top speed, after the model number ceased to be displayed on the nameplate.

Recent sources say that the Rollekonter III corresponds to the camera described above as a Rollekonter I with lens casing, similar to the original Ricohflex, but the dates do not match at all and this is certainly a mistake (see above).

The Rollekonter B

The Rollekonter B is recognized by its nameplate, similar to that of the Rollekonter I and II, but marked Rollekonter B and MADE IN TOKYO. This model is a less expensive version of the Rollekonter II. It seems that the camera has no auto-stop mechanism: one source says that the film advance is manually controlled by watching the frame counter, and another says that it is manually controlled via a red window.

The lens is a Hitonar Anastigmat f/4.5 lens. The shutter is reported by some sources as a Light, perhaps giving 5–200 speeds. The shutter plate is marked Patent Pending at the top.

The Rollekonter B was first advertised in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, and soon replaced the model I. In an advertisement by Mizuno dated April 1942, the Rollekonter B is listed for ¥178, together with the cheaper version of the Rollekonter II for ¥260. The advertising picture shows a Rollekonter B, externally similar to the intermediate Rollekonter II except for the nameplate.

The Rollekonter A

The Rollekonter A was introduced in late 1942 at the top of the range. It has a large housing around the taking and viewing lenses. When viewed from the front, this casing has an aperture index, moving on an aperture scale on the right of the taking lens, and a round window on the left, certainly displaying the selected speed. There is a plate engraved Rolle konter between the taking and viewing lenses. Two levers protrude from the casing, one underneath and the other to the right of the photographer. The bottom lever certainly selects the shutter speed and the side lever certainly winds the shutter.

A number of other controls are visible: the side plate on the left of the photographer has an additional knob and two sliding buttons. It is said that the bottom one is the shutter release. The knob placed behind perhaps sets the self-timer, whose delay is said to be adjustable between 8 and 15 seconds, and which is perhaps engaged by the other sliding button. On the other side of the body, there is another sliding button between the advance and focus knobs. It is probably the advance unlock lever, similar to the button of the late Rollekonter II.

In advertisements dated March and July 1943, the pictures show a Rollekonter A with a nameplate similar to that of the Rollekonter II or Rollekonter B, inscribed Rollekonter A and MADE IN TOKYO. The sliding button at the bottom left is not visible in the picture dated March 1943, which was perhaps retouched. The actual examples observed have a different thicker nameplate with stepped sides, only inscribed Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO with no indication of the model name.

Evolution of the range and prices

The government inquiry listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, only mentions the Rollekonter A and the Rollekonter II. The manufacturer's name is unfortunately missing from the document.

An advertisement by Mizuno dated March 1943 and advertisements by Hakkōdō dated July 1943 and September 1944 show the following price evolution:

Date	June 1938	December 1940	February 1942	April 1942	March 1943	July 1943	September 1944
Model
Rollekonter (I)	¥210	no price	_	_	_	_	_
Rollekonter II (1/300)	_	no price	¥260	¥260	¥260	¥300.02	¥354.04
Rollekonter II (1/500) or Rollekonter III	_	no price	¥278	_	_	¥321.94	¥379.90
Rollekonter B	_	_	_	¥178	¥178	_	_
Rollekonter A	_	_	_	_	¥379	¥437.90	¥578

The September 1944 advertisement blatantly said that the Rollekonter II and III are copies of the Rolleicord II: "same as the Rolleicord II" ("ローライコードⅡ型ト同ジ").

The Rollekonter Automat, with crank advance

The Rollekonter Automat is only known from an advertisement dated February 1944. The picture is a plain front view. It shows a folded advance crank on the photographer's right and a focusing knob on the left. Two smaller knobs are visible below the focusing knob, certainly corresponding to the self-timer winding knob and the bottom film flange. The nameplate is similar to that of the late Rollekonter A, with stepped sides and no mention of the model name. The lenses are surrounded by a casing, shaped the same as on the Rollekonter A. There are two wheels at the front of this casing, between the two lenses, certainly controlling the speed and aperture. It seems that the settings are directly engraved on these wheels, and cannot be viewed from the top. The front of the casing is silver-coloured, and the name Rollekonter Auto or perhaps Rollekonter Automat is inscribed on it, below the taking lens. The shutter winding lever is protruding to the photographer's right, the same as on the Rollekonter A. On the pictured camera, the taking and viewing lenses are U Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/2.8. The advertisement says that the camera was available with f/3.5 or f/2.8 lenses, but no price is given. No example of the Rollekonter Automat has surfaced so far, and the camera perhaps remained a prototype.

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 334–8. (See also the picture on p.437 and the interview of Tanimura Yoshihiko on pp.439–40.)
• "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Items 117–8.
• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in Shōwa 10—40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10〜40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935—1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Pp.108—9. Type 7, section 1.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.849.
• Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin July 20, 1967. "Gyōkai san-jū-nen no ashiato" (業界三十年の足跡, Records of thirty years in the business). Pp.12–33. Reproduced in Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Pp.230–51.
• Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisement on p.77, corresponding to the third cover of the February 15, 1944 issue.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 2021–3.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Nigan-refu no hanashi (zenpen) (二眼レフのはなし[前編], TLR stories [first part]). Gendai Kamera Shinsho (現代カメラ新書) no.68. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1980. No ISBN number. Pp.131–4.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Senzen no kamera 3: Nigan-refu kamera" (戦前のカメラ3・二眼レフカメラ, Prewar cameras 3: TLR cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.19–20. (On the Ricohflex name variant.)

Links

General links

In English:

• Rollekonter I (late) at Barry Toogood's www.tlr-cameras.com

In Japanese:

• Pages at D-Grade Camera World by Matsu:
  • Rollekonter A, front picture and description of use
  • Rollekonter B and description of use
  • Rollekonter II
• Rollekonter I (late), with other pictures here and here
• Rollekonter I (late) at Wakamiya's site
• Rollekonter II at Galerie Y
• Rollekonter in a page of the AJCC website

Original documents

In Japanese:

• Advertisements reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura:
  • Advertisement for the Rollekonter dated 1941
  • Advertisement for the Rollekonter dated between 1942 and 1945
• Advertisement for the Rollekonter published in Asahi Camera February 1942, visible in this page about old camera magazines of Xylocopal's photolog
• Advertisement for the Rollekonter published in Shashin Kagaku September 1944, reproduced in the Japanese camera page of the Gochamaze website